Compare towns
Hampden vs Strong
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Hampden | Strong |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
1,249Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-7.5%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 41±2.9Lowest 8% below ME |
47.5±8.9Highest 6% above ME |
| Strong and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7Highest ME: 18.1% |
19.5%±3.5Lowest ME: 18.1% |
| Hampden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
22%±4.1Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Strong and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
26.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Hampden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13kHighest 50% above ME |
$47,557±$10kLowest 36% below ME |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kHighest about the ME average |
$183,900±$29kLowest 38% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Highest 13% above ME |
$920±$276Lowest 19% below ME |
| Hampden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Highest 22% above ME |
$1,950Lowest 36% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Highest ME: 48.4% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Hampden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest ME: 74.3% |
84.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 5 yrs newer than ME |
1971Lowest 6 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 7% below ME |
31 minHighest 26% above ME |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest ME: 15.9% |
18.5%±9.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| Hampden and Strong are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | RSU 22 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.